It was only last November that I asked almost the same question about a minty, 1967 Mark VI alto that someone had listed on eBay for $20,000. (That horn sold for $14,000 BTW.)
Well today another seller on eBay is offering a minty, Mark VI tenor from 1957, for—are you sitting down?—$24,999.00.
Source: eBay.com
The seller, a man of few words, and a provider of few facts, writes the following about this shiny, 50+ year old vintage horn:
1957 Selmer Mark Vi Tenor Sax
BRAND NEW!! MINT! MINT! MINT! MINT! Original Lacq!
This is a 1957 MINT, MINT, MINT Selmer Mark VI tenor sax. This a 1 owner horn that has only been picked up and touched for 5 minutes at a time. This horn has maybe been palyed 1hour total in all of it’s luxurious life. If you are a collector…… YOU WILL NEVER FIND ANOTHER 5DIGIT MARK VI LIKE THIS AGAIN! Comes with Original Chesterfield case and is absolutley LIKE NEW!
Unfortunately the seller doesn’t provide us with a partial serial number, so we can’t check the accuracy of this 1957 date. He also doesn’t provide photos of all of sides and aspects of the horn.
Of the 11 photos that he does provide, many are of the same areas: the right lower portion of the sax, as well as the bell. A number of the photos are out of focus, and the left side of the sax isn’t shown at all. The Chesterfield case is also not shown in its entirety. IMO, if you’re going to sell this as a collector’s item, the later needs to be included.
However, the photos that the seller does provide, do indeed show a very minty Mark VI.
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
IMO, this is taking the 5 digit Mark VI mystique thing to a whole new level. However, putting saxophone prices into perspective, the guitar player I work with, has a Les Paul valued at over $20,000. Another one of his guitars is also over the $15,000 range. (Don’t ask me what’s so special about them, he’s told me, but the info didn’t stick in my long term memory. Sorry ’bout that. If anyone’s interested, let me know, and I’ll ask Art for you.)
While we all might whine and carry on about the costs of our gear, I’ve said it before, but saxophone players get off cheap compared to other musicians. Many pay much more for high end, and collectible instruments.
The auction for this 1957 (?) Mark VI tenor runs until May 23. The Buy It Now price is, as I mentioned already, $24,999.00. Or you can also try your luck at an offer, which at the time of writing, 2 people had already done.
Update: Well this horn did not sell. By the time the auction ended, there were 6 offers on this closet classic, but none apparently high enough to win this beautiful looking Mark VI.